Boston Welcomes Beer Vending Machine

Advertising agency Arnold Worldwide installed a vending machine, Arnie, in its Boston offices last year that serves 10 different custom-brewed beers.

Arnold Worldwide, the agency that’s created campaigns for McDonald’s, New Balance and Progressive Insurance, installed the beer vending machine in its offices in the fall of 2011.

Developed through Arnold’s “Make Project”, a program designed to encourage staffers to create their own innovative projects and then pitch them to company executives. The first winner: Arnie, the beer vending machine.

Why beer? The firm’s executives explained that Arnie was created to encourage sociability amongst Arnold staffers. Through the design and invention of the beer vending machine, the firm got to flex its tech muscles, imbuing Arnie with ability to identify staffers by voice. When five or more staffers order beers within 20 minutes, the vending machine issues a “hang out” invitation to the rest of Arnold’s employees.